The main opposition BNP has now turned to the UN with the hope of its role in settling the existing political stalemate arising out of the ruling Awami League’s “uncompromising stand on staying in power” during the next parliamentary elections.
A two-member delegation of the opposition party is likely to meet UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on his invitation.
Ban had earlier sent UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco to hold talks with the two feuding parties. The UN chief himself talked with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia over telephone recently and discussed possible ways out of the political standoff.
“We are a member of the UN, which has many instruments. It can advise us on the pros and cons. But I am not sure of any positive outcome,” MK Anwar, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, told the Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday.
Talking to a number of senior BNP leaders, it was learnt that the party was ready to make “maximum sacrifice” to take part in the upcoming general elections.
They said they believed that no doors of understanding were left as the prime minister had told secretaries that she would not make any policy decisions during the election time – despite having the power – clearly meaning that she would stay in office at that time.
The leaders also said they had no other option except for taking tough stance to compel the government to meet the demand for an election under a non-partisan government.
Requesting anonymity, a senior leader said the UN would take some initiatives this month and the party’s next course of action would be determined after the fate of the UN moves.
BNP leaders said UN Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco was likely to visit Bangladesh mid-September and hold meetings with Hasina and Khaleda. The PM is likely to attend the UN General Assembly in the end of this month.
Opposition leaders said they believed that a solution would come from those meetings as Ban would talk to the PM and the opposition delegation to settle the crisis. As the BNP believes that a solution would come through the UN mediation, it announced public meetings at divisional headquarters instead of waging a tough movement, which they had hinted before Eid-ul-Fitr.
However, following the prime minister’s statement on Monday, leaders of the 18-party alliance were now also considering tough programmes.
“After the prime minister’s statement, no door is left open for an understanding, but we want a solution through dialogues. Tough programmes will be announced soon,” Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.
